Novak Djokovic has declared he’s a stronger player than when he won the Australian Open in 2008 and is ready to repeat the triumph.

Third seed Djokovic continues to get better as he marches through the tournament, steamrolling Poland’s unseeded Lukasz Kubot to set up a rematch of his 2008 final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter finals.

After a couple of tight contests to open the tournament, and the year, the Serb has picked up his rhythm impressively, beating Kubot 6-1 6-2 7-5 in the fourth round on Monday.

The 22-year-old warned Tsonga and everyone else in the draw he’s better now than he was two years ago.

“They are two different persons, physically I’m much stronger and able to get through the tough matches,” he said.

“The 2008 Australian Open is by far the best tournament I ever played … I believe I can play the same tournament this year.”

He has won his last nine sets and was too strong for world No.86 Kubot who walked into the fourth round when Mikhail Youzhny withdrew from their third round match with a wrist injury.

“It was an extremely good match for me today,” Djokovic said.

“The first two matches I was trying to get rhythm, the next two I am really pleased with.”

By contrast, Tsonga had to fight for his life to set up the meeting with Djokovic after being taken to five sets by Spain’s Nicolas Almagro.

The Frenchman looked to also be cruising into the quarters, but stumbled after winning the first two sets to eventually beat the 26th seed 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-7 (6-8) 9-7.

The 10th seeded Frenchman fittingly won the match with a deft volley after forming an imposing presence at the net throughout the match.

He had to save two break points in a dramatic fifth set as Almagro’s pressed for a surprise win.

Since their 2008 final at Melbourne Park, Tsonga has won four of the five meetings he has had with Djokovic, although the Serb won the last time they played, in Miami last March.

“Absolutely it’s going to be very difficult for either of us,” Djokovic said.

“Jo can beat anyone if he’s really on the roll and if he starts hitting the ball well. I just have to keep pressuring him and just apply my style of the game, not allow him to control the match.”

Sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko also had to claw his way into the quarter finals with his toughest fight of the tournament.

Like Tsonga, the Russian faltered after winning the first two sets before finally outlasting Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6-2 7-5 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 in three hours and 57 minutes.

After the first two sets, the in-form Davydenko looked headed toward his 13th win in a row, but his game unravelled, particularly in the fourth set tiebreak.

But he was confident he would overcome Verdasco.

“He’s strong physically, but not mentally,” he said.

“For sure he was strong. For sure he can play five, six, sets. But concentration you can’t hold all five sets the same.

“I know he have power in the fifth set, but he can make mistake.”

Davydenko will play his quarter final against the winner of Monday night’s match between world No.1 Roger Federer and Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt.

© AAP 2012

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